Shoe polishing machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1966 iNVENTOR.

July 29, 1969 E. DREIBHOLZV SHOE POLISHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1966 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,457,578 SHOE POLISHING MACHINE Egon Dreibholz, Wuppertal-Barmen, Germany, assignor to Frobana K.G., Wuppertai-Barmen, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed July 5, 1966, Ser. No. 562,654 Claims priority, applicatitnofiermany, Jan. 5, 1966,

Int. (31. A471 23/02 US. Cl. 15-31 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a shoe polishing machine with a shoe paste dispenser, which is provided with a storage receptacle for the liquid wax or polish, which is fed to the brushes of the machine.

In the known machines of this type, the shoe paste or the like is sprayed to the brushes. These embodiments are disadvantageous in use. It was found that the brushes rotating at a comparatively great number of revolutions threw off again the shoe cream or polish to the greater part, before the cream or polish is distributed over the shoe. This brings about very great soiling of the inside of the machine. The yield of the shoe polish is slight. The need of servicing the machines is great, particularly, when there are automatic shoe polishing machines to be concerned with, which are coin-operated. In connection with the latter, also the correct timing of the program-controlled feeding of the polish or wax to the brushes is connected with considerable difficulties.

In connection with other known shoe polishing machines, it is already known, that the paste-like shoe cleaning means must be arranged within a tube directed towards the brushes, and be fed by means of a rackcontrolled piston to the brushes. Also these devices are disadvantageous from a standpoint of use and technical production. Above all, the refilling of the shoe cleaning means presents considerable difiiculties. The susceptibility of the machine in connection with any possible temperature differences is extreme; in the case of higher temperatures, the consequently softer state of the shoe cleaning paste, will lead to a greater dosing, than in the case of lower temperatures.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a shoe polishing machine, in which, above all, there is used the liquid wax, which, in connection with the maintenance, capability of refilling and distribution over the shoe is more advantageous, and which is designed such, that the liquid wax is applied on the brushes in a dependable and simple manner in proper distribution. In this connection, the present invention basically follows the concept that the liquid wax is taken up by the bristles of the brush itself and in particular in a suitable dosage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe polishing machine, which has a simple and favorable structure for its use and from a production view. The wall of the shoe wax or paste storage container is provided with discharge openings and extends into the range of rotation of the brushes. The bristles of the brushes reice ceive directly from the discharge openings the shoe cleaning means. The great rotary speed of the brushes has a favorable effect. The bristles take care simultaneously that the discharge openings are not clogged up. The discharge openings completely free on the brush side, are cleaned by the bristles of the brush. This cleaning takes place in full depth of the discharge openings, since the latter are closed by slides on the inside. Even after long non-working periods no clogging-up occurs, because the feeding of the shoe cleaning means takes place generally only in the first rotary phases of the brushes, while the later rotary phases of the brushes thus with the same working cycle provide again the cleaning of the discharge openings.

Due to this development, there has been created a design and construction which is simple to manufacture and which is favorable for use in a suitable shoe-shine machine. It was found that through this great cleaning effect of the brushes and on account of the high carryingalong eifect of the brushes resulting from the passing of the brushes alongside of the openings, even slight hydrostatic pressures are sufiicient, to bring about practically a complete discharge or emtpying of the shoe cream receptacle. The liquid wax does not need to be subjected in the shoe wax or polish storage receptacle to any additional pressures.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe polishing machine, wherein for long periods of use of the machine, the hydrostatic pressure is maintained in approximately the same extent, which cifect is obtained such, that the shoe cream storage receptacle bearing the wall with the discharge openings is connected with an additional receptacle extending in horizontal direction.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a shoe polishing machine, wherein the easy taking off of the wax by the brushes and a design permitting the cleaning action of the brushes, comprises the feature that the storage receptacle wall of the section which bears the openings is thinner.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a shoe polishing machine, wherein in order to maintain a great stability and resistance to wear of the corresponding wall section, the thinner sections are formed by means of mold-like grooves of the wall, which extend in the direction of rotation of the brushes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shoe polishing machine, wherein a favorable and simple design and control of the slides is brought about such, that the slides, which are spring-actuated in the direction of closing, are supported on a shaft which is arranged in the storage receptacle and which is connected with the intermediate arrangement of a control arm with the anchor of a program-controlled pull magnet.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a shoe polishing machine, wherein the high reception effect of the brushes is enhanced by a cleaning comb interconnected with the brushes. Such a cleaning comb can be in engagement with the brushes continuously or intermittently. It cleans the brushes of any possible adhering wax, which effect easily occurs especially due to the intimate wetting of the brushes with the Wax as a result of the taking-elf of the wax from the wall of the storage receptacle.

It is, however, also an object of the present invention to provide a shoe polishing machine, wherein in order to maintain in connection with this cleaning and also in connection with the taking over of the liquid wax from the wall of the storage receptacle a sufficiently large intimate engagement, to equip the brushes partially with inner circularly arranged bristles of greater stability.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the shoe polishing machine designed in accordance with the present invention, the side wall being removed for the purpose of better demonstration;

FIG. 2 is a top plan View of the shoe wax dispenser in connection with an embodiment preferably arranged with horizontally rotating brushes;

FIG. 3 is a section along the lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the shoe wax dispenser, preferably for vertically rotating brushes;

FIG. 6 is a section along the lines 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a section along the lines 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 4, the shoe polishing machine comprises a housing 1 arranged in frame construction and covered by plates. The inside of the housing 1 is accessible through a turnable cover 2 and doors provided in the rear wall adapted to be used by servicing persons.

At the front of the machine, there is arranged an entrance opening 3 for insertion of a shoe 4 to be polished. A wiping brush 3' is coordinated to the entrance openin 3.

Brushes 5 and 6 rotate around the inserted shoe 4 along a horizontal plane. The brushes 5 and 6 are sup ported by arms 7 and 8 and are caused to rotate by a turntable 9. A preferably elliptic friction disc 10 controls the brushes in a rotating path corresponding to the approximate shape of the shoe 4. The brushes 5 and 6 are subjected in turn to rotation by the friction rollers 11. A pull spring 12 keeps the friction rollers 11 in contact with the friction disc 10.

The turntable 9 receives its drive from the friction disc 13 put to rotation by a main drive. A supporting disc 14 subjected to spring pressure rotates idly below the friction disc 13.

An electric motor 15 is used as driving means. The motor 15 drives over a motor disc 16 and a V-belt 17, a belt pulley 18, which subjects a main shaft 19 mounted in the housing 1 to rotation by any conventional transmission means. A belt pulley 20 coordinated to the friction disc 13 receives its drive by means of a V-belt 21 from the main shaft 19.

A horizontally rotating roller brush 22 is furthermore mounted on the main shaft 19. The latter extends above the preferably ribbed supporting surface 23 for the shoe the heel of the shoe 4, actuates a switch 25 by means of a control arm 26 extending from the control key 24.

If the machine is not in use, the control key 24 and the control arm 26 are shifted by a pull spring 27 out of the control range of the switch 25.

A shoe wax dispenser 28 and 29, respectively, is coordinated to the horizontally rotating roller brush 22 and also to the two brushes 5 and 6 rotating about their vertical axes.

Both dispensers 28 and 29 for the shoe cleaning means are immovably secured within the housing 1 and extend into the rotating range of these brushes. They are each provided with a vertical cylindrical shoe polish storage receptacle 30 (FIGS. 1 and 3). An additional receptacle 31 (FIG. 3) extending in horizontal direction is flanged to the receptacle 30, which receptacle 31 includes a filling branch 32 for a liquid wax or liquid polish suitable as shoe cleaning means. The filling branch 32 can be closed up by means of a screw cap 33. The wall of the screw cap 33 is perforated.

Within the additional receptacle 31, there is arranged in a floating tube 34 a float 35, a needle 36 of which indicates by means of a scale, the level of the filling material. The maximum filling state is indicated by an angular leg 36'.

The additional receptacle 31 brings about, in addition to an enlarged storage system, only a slight drop of the hydrostatic pressure, during the varying of filling quantity. The shoe cleaning means containing storage receptacle 30 and the additional receptacle 31 communicate with each other by means of passages 37.

While the wax is fed to the brushes 5 and 6 from discharge openings 38 of the Wall 38, the wax is supplied to the roller brush 22 through openings 39 of the storage receptacle bottom 39 which can be screwed off. The storage receptacle wall 38 of the shoe polish dispenser 28 and the storage receptacle bottle 39 of the shoe polish dispenser 29 are designed of thinner material within the range of the sections thereof having the openings 38 and 39. In this manner, there are obtained openings of slight thickness. These openings of slight thickness prevent an accumulation and a clogging, respectively, of the comparatively small passage cross-section in the manner, that the bristles of the brushes tear off any possibly adhering and discharging wax, and in this manner bring about the automatic cleaning of the discharge openings. The pertinent thinned sections are obtained by one or a plurality of mold-like grooves 40 and 40', respectively. These extend in the direction of rotation of the brushes 5 and 6, as well as 22, respectively.

For the opening and closing of the wax discharge openings 38 and 39', respectively, the shoe cream dispensers are provided with remote controlled slides 41 and 42, respectively. The latter close and open the inside of the receptacle. The control of the slides is included in the programmed operation of the machine.

In the embodiment of the shoe polish dispenser, disclosed in FIGS. 2-4, the slide 41 of the closing device comprises a control block or stone guided in a wing 43 of the shaft 44. This block 45 is subjected to the action of pressure springs 46 which press it against the inner wall 30' of the storage receptacle 30.

The cylindrical storage receptacle 30 is closed at its bottom by a bottom plate 47. The latter has in central position a pin 48 on which the wing 41 firmly connected with the shaft 44 is rotatably supported. In the upper part, the shaft 44 passes through the screwable receptacle cover 49. The latter forms a support 50. The free shaft end is connected by means of an intermediate control arm 51 with an anchor 52 of a program-controlled pull-magnet 53. The latter is supported by an extending arm 54 originating from the housing cover 49. While in the case of the pulling magnet 53 being in its operative state, the stroke in the opening direction is limited by a set screw 53 disposed on the pulling magnet 53, a limitation of the stroke in the opposing direction is provided by the stop angle 55. The anchor 52 is provided for this purpose with a stopping collar 52 which simultaneously serves as support for a pressure spring 56. In case the pulling magnet 53 is in its inoperative state, the control block 45 assumes immediately its closing position.

-In the embodiment of the shoe cream dispenser disclosed in FIGS. 57, the control means for the closing device is of a similar structure and the same members carry the same numerals. The difference resides merely in the design of the slide 42. The latter is designed like a plate in adjustment to the displaced discharge place. The slide 42 is likewise supported on a pin 57 extending out of the plane of the bottom plate 39. The slide 42 is provided with a number of discharge openings 58 corresponding to the number of the discharge openings 39'. which discharge openings 39' are directed toward each other and permit the discharge of the liquid wax. The passage openings within the slide 42 may be of larger cross-section or be formed by indentations arranged on the edge thereof.

The slide 42 is likewise supported on a pin 57 extendspring 59, which presses it against the corresponding bottom surface. As spring support and counter support, there serves a collar 61 secured by means of a screw 60 to the shaft 44, as well as the inner surface of the screw cap 49.

A guide sheet 62 extending from the bottom plate 39 in the turning direction of the roller brush 22, for instance, covered with leather, is arranged likewise Within the range of this brush and supports a rubbing-in of the shoe polish into the brush body.

A cleaning comb 63 and 64, respectively, entering the brushes 22 and 5, 6, respectively, precede openings of both embodiments. This cleaning comb is developed as a brush body. It is supported by arms 63' firmly arranged in the housing. There exists, however, the possibility to arrange this comb 63 and 64, respectively, disengageably and to include the latter in the automatic programmed operation of the machine. Such a comb cleans the brushes from dirt and lumps of wax which may possibly form at the surface of the brushes.

The rotating brushes 5, 6 and 22, respectively, are furthermore partially provided with bristle rings 65 having more stable arranged bristles and bristle rings 65' having bristles of softer material. The softer bristle rings 65' rotate in front of the openings 38' and 39'.

A wax receiving plate 66 screwed to the bottom plate 47 avoids a dripping off of the wax and causes a complete reception of the wax by the brushes 5 and 6.

Bottom sheets 67 slidable into the foot of the machine, serve for the catching of dirt particles. They are arrested by a lever arrangement 68. A locking device 69 enters in locking position behind the angular edge of the bottom plate 67. The locking position can be released by means of a pulling rod 70.

A holding grip 71 is secured to the front of the machine. It has the design of a stirrup.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present inveniton, it is to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the objects and the claims.

I claim: 1. A shoe polishing machine, comprising: a shoe paste dispenser, including a storage receptacle adapted to receive liquid wax, brushes adapted to be moved about a shoe to be cleaned, said storage receptacle having a wall including discharge openings, said w-all extending into the rotary range of said brushes, remote-controlled slides for closing and opening said discharge openings being disposed inside of said receptacle, said slides are spring-biased in closing direction, a shaft extending through said storage receptacle, said slides being mounted on said shaft, a program-controlled pulling magnet including an anchor operatively connected with said slides, and a control arm connecting said slides with said pulling magnet. 2. The shoe polishing machine, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

program-control means for controlling said pulling magnet and causing said brushes to continue to rotate when said slides close said discharge openings for cleaning the outside portion of said discharge openings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 12,662 6/ 1907 Scanlan 15-38 X 826,897 7/1906 Shely 118-259 X 1,448,342 3/1923 Harris 1531 X 1,979,240 11/ 1934 Adelmann. 2,796,847 6/ 1957 Guggenhein 118-411 3,186,019 6/1965 Hattori 15179 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner ROBERT I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,457,578 July 29, 1969 Egon Dreibholz It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, line 8, "F 48,091" should read F 48,090

Signed and sealed this 21st day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

